Winter Solstice: Buffalo Medicine

Having spent the past 5 months in Montana, I’ve come to acknowledge the deep appreciation Montanans have for the land, the water and the animals. The lore of the native culture carries over into the mainstream here. I recently watched a fascinating and heartbreaking documentary about the struggle of the American Buffalo and the native tribes that relied so heavily on the buffalos presence in their lives. In this documentary, over and over they spoke of “Buffalo Medicine”, which is the lesson that the presence of the buffalo and the essence of their being serves to convey in the natural world and in our lives.

The buffalo’s medicine is to remember that we benefit from directly facing the storms in our lives. A buffalo is unfazed by harsh weather and strong storms. The buffalo moves directly into the approaching storm, knowing it’s the quickest way through it. The buffalo offers the example of courage, endurance and determination. Facing the challenges that are presented as an invitation and a natural course of evolution. The Buffalo was brought to near extinction as a means through which to disempower and domesticate the native tribes and make them dependant on the government and thus easier to control. As barbaric as that seems, these methods of control are still present in today’s society, although seemingly much more subtle and insidious. We must remain aware and sovereign in our spirit to be able to recognize the ways in which our freedoms and personal power are constantly being challenges and compromised, be it through various forms of propaganda, advertising, or methods of “helpful” modern convenience.

As we approach winter solstice, I’m using the buffalo as my muse. Not only as the medicine to persevere through challenging times, but also as a symbol of rebirth. The winter season is a time of ending, and as Solstice approaches, it invites renewal of the sun, life, opportunity and healing.